I've been reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle about her family's year long attempt at being self-sustaining. Of course, it sends me over the edge... I want to live like that but for some reason it seems so unattainable to me. I guess because Mark has absolutely no interest in it. The boys say they do, but, I know how that goes... and I have convinced myself I can't do it alone. I read, then I go do research, then I pace around and think about what I could do to get started.. and then get completely overwhelmed and give up the idea.

This year's garden once again proves that we could not live on what I can grow unless I increase the effort... bigger garden, more work, more dedication to actually growing and canning and ..................................................

But, what I am thinking is that I should just tackle one small thing at a time. Pick a project and follow it through.

Maybe, next year instead of making a bigger garden just concentrate on one or two foods that we really like and grow more of that, enough to can for a year.

I know Mark would not help with any kind of animal raising.. we have been there, done that and he won't do it again. But, I could handle chickens for egg laying purposes. I've done that before. I guess when they get too old to lay they can just become pets :)

The ideas and thoughts come like a storm swirling around in my brain, the actual work of it kind of loses me.

ONE project, one project, one project.....

I'll stew over that for a while and get back to you.

OH, how are ya'll doing?
We are all good. We are busy. The babies are great. The grown ones are doing fine.

Summer, hopefully, is losing its steam... thank God!! Schools have already started around here.

Off to do some more research. Love you guys!!